What was your first handgun?

[TOrrock]

Just wondering what your first handgun was, whether you bought it yourself or whether it was issued to you or was a gift.

Mine was a Springfield Armory M1911A1, purchased in 1988 when I was 17. My father filled out the 4473, but I paid for it with money I had earned working at the indoor range. This was back when you could have any flavor of 1911 from Springfield you wanted, as long as it was what became known as the "Mil-Spec".

It was a great gun and I really enjoyed field stripping it and then detail stripping it, all the intricacies that make a 1911 a 1911. I got oil stains on the pages of the reprint of the 1943 edition of Small Arms of the World that I had going over the 1911 section.

So, what was your first handgun? Did you buy it yourself or was it issued to you?

[30 cal slut]

The day I turned 21 I marched into a gun shop and bought a Ruger P-85. I already had a bunch of long guns and was so excited about getting my first pistol. Even more excited than being able to legally to go a bar and grab a brew.

It was a a downward spiral from there.

[Robb Jensen]

Glock 17 Gen 1. I paid for it and my dad did the paperwork. 1987, I was still in high school.

[Jay Cunningham]

Glock 23 that I purchased in 1992 I believe.

[Business_Casual]

S&W Model 10, I bought it at a gun show and paid way too much for it back then, probably all of $150.

B_C

[ghettomedic]

Star PD .45

[jaxman7]

I was 15 and was just crazy about two movies, Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. Well guess what handgun I wanted, a Beretta 92. I begged and begged my grandfather. After much debate with him and LOTS more of firearms safety he decided that if I would work and pay for half he would pitch in the other half. I've got very found memories of shooting that thing with Pop.

[5pins]

My first was back in 86 when I was 21. It was a Colt Peacekeeper .357 mag. What a piece of crap. This was back when Colt was having union problems and it showed.

[S391]

I was 18 in 1986 and I bought a AMT Hardballer stainless 1911 from a friend. Once I got it back from the warranty center it shot pretty well.

[ThirdWatcher]

Smith & Wesson Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman w/ 6" barrel. My Dad gave it to me when I got out of the Army in 1976. I probably put more rounds through it than all my other weapons combined. I wouldn't part with it for anything (especially since Dad has been gone for four years now).